Continuous dough-sheeting mechanism.



E. E. LAWRENCE.

CONTINUOUS DouGH SHEETING MEcHANlsM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I6, 1914.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915;` k

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1 mic? ` I nv@ Edward Ellawrenec.

Mn/esa e@ E. E. LAWRENCE.

CONTINUOUS DOUGH SHEETING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I6, |914.

Patented Apr.` 6, 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Iwewow EdwwdELawwemce.

E. E. LAWRENCE.

CONTINUOUS DOUGH SHEETING MECHANISIVI.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I6, I9I4.

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CONTINUOUS DOUGH SHEETING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR-15.1914.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.,

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4 A@ QM, mwu

Y mm \W\ E. E. LAWRENCE.

CONTINUOUS DOUGH SHEETING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR-16, 1914.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

E. E. LAWRENCE.

CONYINUOUS DOUGH SHEETING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.16, i914.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

E. E. LAWRENCE.

CONTINUOUS DouGH SHEETING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I6, 1914.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

E. E. LAWRENCE.

commuous DouGH sHEETlNG MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I6. 1914.

Ptented Apr. 6, 1915.

Inv@ i@ a4 Edwa and Elwieoe. 31%

UNITED STATES PATENT FFTQE.

EDWARD E. LAWRENCE, 0F CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 LOOSE WILES BISCUIT COMPANY, 0F KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

CONTINUOUS DOUGH-SHEETING MECHANISM.

insisto.,

vSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

Application led April 16, 1914. Serial N o. 832,397.

To all lw71 om 'it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD E. LAWRENCE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Continuous Dough- Sheeting Mechanism, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to mechanism for producing continuous sheets of doughl for biscuit, or like manufacture.

In order that the principle of the invention may readily be understood, I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is an elevation from the righthand side of one form of apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the left-hand side thereof; Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 4 is an elevation of the front, or feeding end of the apparatus; Fig. 5 is an elevation of the delivery end thereof, a portion of the apparatus being shown in transverse section; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section taken through the apparatus, a portion of the delivery end thereof being broken away; Fig. 7 is a horizontal, longitudinal section of the apparatus, and showing the variable speed drive mechanism; Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the traveling compression surfaces; and Fig. 9 is an end elevation thereof.

Heretofore, so far as I am aware, it has been the practice to prepare sheets of dough for -biscuit cutting and like machines by feeding a mass of dough between a single pair of rollers, which are driven first in one, and then in the opposite direction, so that the mass is brought into sheet form by being passed back and forth repeatedly between said rollers. Not only are two persons required to feed the sheet, or layer, back and forth until the proper thickness thereof is obtained, but the'sheets are of comparatively short lengths, and in order to feed sheet-like material continuously to the biscuit cutter, or other machine, it has been necessary to lap the sheets, this being done customarily at intervals of about 30 inches. These lapped sheets are passed between the so-called gaging rolls of the biscuit-cutting or other machine. This lapping operation or products result at their lapped zones. These thicker biscuits will not bake as readily as thoseformed from the thinner portions of the sheet, and hence either the thicker' biscuits are underbaked, or if they be properly baked, then the thinner biscuits are overbaked or burned.

In order to overcome this and other objections, I have, in accordance with my invention, devised and perfected a process and apparatus for carrying out the same, whereby the dough mass is formed into a continuous sheet, which may be fed in an indeterminate length to the gaging rolls of the biscuitcutting or like machine.

While the process may be carried out in different ways, and by a wide variety of mechanisms, I preferably employ apparatus, one embodiment of which is herein represented.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have therein represented the framework as composed of metallic, or other suitable side members 1, 2, connected in any suitable manner, and wherein the variousI operating parts are mounted. For convenience of description, I shall hereinafter refer to the lreceiving end of the apparatus as the front end thereof, and to the delivery end as the rear end thereof.

In accordance with the disclosed embodiment of the invention, I provide a preferably traveling support for a mass of dough, and preferably means to reduce the same to preliminary sheet form, and other means further to reduce the thickness thereof. In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, the sheet is reduced to final form by the preliminary and the succeeding sheet-forming means, but within the scope of my invention, a greater number of sheet-forming means may be employed. Preferably also, said sheet-forming means are driven at successively higher speeds.

The main drive shaft is represented most clearly at 3 in Fig. 7, it being mounted in suitable bearings in the frame, and being provided with a loose pulley 4, which may be clutched to the shaft by means of any suitable clutch 5, one form of which is indicated at 5 in Fig. 5. Therein I have represented a clutch-operating lever 6, pivoted at 7 upon a bracket 8 secured to the frame of the machine, said lever 6 having a trans- Yis very objectionable, in that thicker biscuits verse operating arm 9, extending through 10 within convenient reach of tlm operative.

I preferably provide suitable means for driving the preliminary sheet former and the final sheet former at variable speeds, though, as stated, the final sheet former is preferably driven at all times at a higher rate of speed than the preliminary sheet former. While for this purpose any suitable mechanism may be employed, I have herein represented the said main drive shaft 3 as having splined thereon two cones 11, 12, supporting a driving belt 13 also passing about a second pair of cones 14, 15, splined upon a shaft 16, suitably mounted in the frame. Said cones are provided with hubs or sleeves, to which are suitably connected levers 17, 18, pivoted at 19, 20, upon suitable studs on a girder or other transverse member 21. Said levers 17, 18, at their opposite ends are provided with nuts 22, mounted upon the right and lefthand threads 23, 24 of a suitable screw-shaft 25, which may be turned in any suitable manner so as to move the members of said pairs of cones toward and from each other, and thus to vary the speed of the shaft 16. For this purpose, and as shown most clearly in Fig. 1, I have mounted upon the shaft 16 a sprocket gear 26, about which passes a sprocket chain 27, the latter also passing about a similar sprocket gear 28,mounted at a suitable point upon the frame, and having a handle 29, by means of which it may be turned in either direction so as, in the manner described, to change the position of the'said cones 11, 12, 13 and 14. Preferably, also, I provide means for varying the speed of the inal sheet former, and at the righthand side of Fig. 7, I have represented a similar construction of parts. Therein, I have represented a shaft 30, mounted in suitable bearing-boxes in the framing, and driven by a sprocket chain 31 from the main drive shaft 3. Said shaft 40 has splined thereon cones 31, 32, and upon a parallel shaft 33 are splined cones 34, 35. About said cones passes a belt 36. Said cones are connected for adjusting movement by levers 37, 38, pivoted a-t 39, 40, upon a suitable cross girder or member 41. Said levers 37, 38 are -provided at their forward ends with nuts 42, 43, mounted upon right and left hand threads 44, 45, of a screw-threaded shaft 46. Said shaft 46 is herein represented as pro- .vided with a hand-wheel 47, by which it may ,be turned in either direction.

In the manner described, or in any other suitable way, I drive the preliminary and final sheet formers at variable speeds.

rI`he preliminary sheet former 1s herem represented as composed of two preferably metallic rolls 48, 49, shown most clearly in Fig. 6, and mounted in suitable manner 1n the side frames 1 and 2. `While these rolls may be driven in any suitable manner, I preferably provide the shaft 16 with a spiral gear contained within the casing 50, shown most clearly in Fig. 7, and meshing with a similar spiral gear in the casing 51, surrounding an upright shaft 52 having fast thereon right and left Worms 53, 54, lneshing with worm wheels 55, 56, fast upon the said rolls 48, 49. Preferably, I provide means whereby said rolls 55, 56, may be positioned at dilfcrent distances from each other, so as to secure any desired thickness of sheet. For this purpose, I have represented the lower roll 49 as mounted in a bearing-box 57, having a fixed position between upright portions 58, 59 of the framing:v The bearing-box 60 for the upper roll 48 is, however, adjustable, and for this purpose I have represented it as having suitably secured thereto a screw 61 threaded in a suitable stationarv nut 62 upon the framing, and provided with a hand-wheel 63, by means of which the said bearing-box 60 may be raised or lowered. In order to indicate the position of said bearing-box', I may provide any suitable construction, but have herein'represented said bearing-box as having attached thereto a rack 64 meshing with a suitable pinion 65, upon an indicatingdisk 66 marked with numbers, or in any other suitable way, so as to be turned in either direction past a stationary pointer 67 upon the framing. In this manner, the operator can make a record of the distance apart of said rolls 48, 49, in securing any desired product, and may at any time set the rolls at precisely the same distance apart in securlng the same product.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, I provide means for simultaneously adjusting both ends of the roll 48. For this purpose, I have herein represented the screw 61 as having fast thereon a sprocket gear 68, about which passes a sprocket chain (i9, extending across the apparatus as shown in Fig. 3, and about a sprocket pinion 70 upon a sleeve 71, secured by a set screw 72 to a screw 73 at the opposite side of the machine. Said screw is similarly connected to a bearing-box 74, and in the manner described, adjustment of the bearing-box 74 may be effected. It will be observed that the worm 53 is considerably longer than the worm 54. This permits the adjustment of the upper roll 48 by rolling its worm wheel 55 along the worm 53.

It is sometimes desirable or necessary to eEect independent adjustment of the bearing 74, because of the looseness of the chain 69, or for other reason. This may readily be effected by loosening the set screw 72, thereby disconnecting the sleeve 71 from the screw 73, whereupon said screw 73 maybe independently adjusted by rotation of the Fig. 6, the said roll 49 is preferably provided with iianges, one of which is shown at 78 in Fig. 6, thus defining the lateral edges of the dough sheet.

Operatively in the rear of the sheet-forming rolls 48, 49, I provide a suitable Asupport for the dough mass. This support is preferably a movable one, and as shown most clearly in Fig. 6, it preferably comprises a belt 79, the upper run of which is supported upon a suitable stationary guide, or member 80. The said belt passes about a series. of rolls 81, 82, 83, at the feeding end of the apparatus, and about rolls 84, 85, between.

A the same and the lower sheet-forming As shown most clearly in Fig. 2, the shaft 86 of the sheet-forming roll 49 has fast thereon a sprocket gear 87, about which passes a sprocket chain 88, likewise passing about a sprocket pinion 89 fast upon the `shaft 90 of the roll 81, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2. In this manner, the apron 79 is driven from the roll 49, but at a reduced speed. The roll 82 is provided to maintain a proper frictionalA engagement of the belt with the roll 81. It is driven from the former in any suitable manner, and for that purpose I have, in Fig. 1, represented the roll 81 as provided with a pinion 81, meshing with a similar pinion 82 fast upon the shaft of said roll 82.l As shown in Fig. 2, I provide the said roll 82 at each end with a bearing-box 91, adjustable in any suitable manner, as by means of a hand-wheel 92, having a suitable screw 93 connected thereto. Preferably, also, I interpose an elastic cushion 94, of rubber or other suitable material, permitting yielding of the roll 82 in case of inequalities in the belt 79. The roll 83 is supported in any suitable manner in the framing, and is driven by the belt, as are also the rolls 84, 85.

Preferably, I provide some suitable form of belt-tightener. For this purpose, I have in Figs. 2 and 6, represented a shaft 95, having mounted thereon a bell-crank lever having arms 96, 97, provided with transverse.

"boxes 105, I. pre

said shaft 95, and which may be turned manually or otherwise. The said ratchet may be held in adjustable position `by a pawl 103.

The preliminary sheet-forming rolls 48, 49, I preferably term bondig rolls. Operatively in the rear thereof, and coperating .With the belt 79, I mount a mangle roll 104,

which may be of any suitable material, but preferably is metallic. This roll may be spaced at any suitable distance from the upper run of the belt 79, such distance being greater than that between the bonding rolls 48-49. Preferably, however, I provide means for elevating the said mangle roll, which latter may be driven in any suitable manner. clearly in Fig. 2, for this purpose I provide the said mangle roll 104 with suitable bearing boxes 105, mounted in suitable slotted supports 106 upon coiled springs 107. Upon `one end of the shaft of' said mangle roll 104 Preferably, and as shown most.

is fast a sprocket 108, and upon the correspondingend of the shaft of the bonding roll 48 is a sprocket 109. About said sprockets is passed a 'sprocket chain 110, by means of Whichthe said mangle roll is driven from l the bonding roll 48, preferably at the same speed as the belt 7 9.

I preferably provide suitable means, such for example as that already described with reference to the upper bonding roll 48, to effect the vertical adjustment of the mangle roll 104.

As shown most clearly in Figs. l and 2, the bearing-boxes 105 of said mangle roll 104 are provided with screws 111, extending upward therefrom, and passing through suitable stationary nuts 112 upon the framing. Upon the upper ends of said screws are fast hand-wheels 113, which are connected for simultaneous movement by a sprocket chain 114, passing about suitable sprockets 115. In order to permit individual adjustment of said bearing-boxes 105, one of said sprockets, as for example that shown in Fig. 2, is fast upon a sleeve 116, which may be made fast by a set screw 117 to the corresponding screws 111. To indicate the adjustment of the bearing boxes 105, I have herein represented one of' said boxes as provided with a rack 118, meshing with a pinion 119 upon the shaft of an indicating disk 120, provided with numerals or other indicating marks, and adapted to be turned past a fixed indicatin finger 121. Beneath the fg rably provide supporting springs 122. 'g

Succeeding, .or operatively in advance of the bonding rolls 48, 49, and the belt 76 of the latter, I provide other sheet compressing means, which in this embodiment of my invention constitute the final sheet-forming means. While said succeeding final sheetforming means may partake of various forms, I preferably form the same of upper and lower traveling members, which referably are driven at a higher rate o speed than the said bonding rolls 48, 49. Herein for the purpose, I have represented the beltlike members. The said `lower compression surface is composed of a belt 123, passing about a series of guide-rolls 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, and also about the end of a suitable support hereinafter to be referred to, as well as about a driving roll 129. In order to drive the said belt, the shaft 33, shown most clearly in Fig. 7, has fast thereon a sprocket pinion 130, passing about which is a sprocket chain 131, also passing about a sprocket gear 132, fast upon a shaft 133. Also fast upon said shaft, and preferably at the opposite end thereof, is a gear 134 (see Fig. 2), meshing with a pinion 134', itself meshing with a pinion 134 upon the shaft 135, having fast thereon at its opposite end a gear 136, which meshes with a gear 137 fast upon a roll 138.` The roll 138 is provided to engage the inner surface of the belt 123, and to secure a sufficient friction between it and the driving roll 129. 'Ihe said roll 138 is mounted in adjustable bearing boxes 139. 'Ihe upper run of said belt 123 at the delivery end of the machine is supported upon a suitable table or member 140, which is pivotally secured to the fram ing of the apparatus at 141, thereby permit-ting the desired angular adjustment of said table, or like support. While to effect this adjustment any suitable means may be provided, I have, as most clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, provided brackets 142, 143. the former being pivoted to the table as indicated at 144, and the latter being secured thereto at 145, but in an adjustable man- A142, and the latter may be adjusted about its pivot 144 by a set screw 146 passing therethrough, and bearing against the bracket 143, which is itself provided with an adjusting screw 147 bearing against the bearing box 139. It will be understood that similar brackets 142 and 143 may be provided at the opposite sides of the apparatus,

and equipped with similar adjusting means.

In this manner, by 'adjustment of the brackets 142and 143, the tightness of the belt may be varied, and the upper run thereof vmay be elevated or depressed.

The said belt 123 is preferably provided with belt-tightening means, preferably .generally similar to that provided for the belt 79. For this purpose, I have most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 6 a shaft 148, having thereon a bell-crank lever, the arms 149 and 150 whereof may contact with opposite faces of said belt 143. Said shaft l148 is mounted in cross members, one ofwhich is shown at 151 in Fig. 2 as spag a suitable op 11g 152, permitting access to a ratchet 153 fast upon said shaft 148, and permitting rotative adjustment of the latter. Said ratchet is held in adjustable position by a pawl 154.

Above the belt 123, I provide a coperat- -ing compression surface driven preferably1 at the same speed, but, as previously stated, at a speed eXceedin that of the bonding rolls 48, 49. Prefera ly, also, said coperating surface is spaced from the belt 123 at a distance less than that of the spacing of the bonding rolls 48, 49, so as to compress the sheet to the final thickness, which, however, may be varied as hereinafter set forth.

While the upper compressing surface may be of any sultable form, I have, as most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 6, represented the same as composed of a vseries of small rolls 155, each loosely mounted upon a pintle of links 156 of a sprocket chain passing about a suitable cam, or form member, 157 'at opposite sides of the apparatus. In order suitably to guide the said rolls 155, I have, as most clearly shown in Fig. 8, provided each roll at opposite ends with smaller, loose rolls 158, riding upon the edges of said cam or form members 157.

rIhe main driving shaft 3 is provided with a sprocket, about which passes a chain 159, alsopassing about a sprocket v160 fast upon ashaft 161, having bearing boxes 162 adjust ably mounted, as hereinafter described, in suitable guides 163.v In order to convey motion from said shaft-161 to the rolls 155, I provide said shaft'at4 o posite ends with sprocket gears 164, 165, 'slllown most clearly in Fig. 8. Ihe said sprocket gears y164, 165, receive rolls 166,.loosely mounted with ball bearings upon the shafts`167 ofthe said rolls 155. In this manner, the said rolls, connected together in endless belt form, are guided about the cams or forms 157, and cooperate with the belt 123, to impart the final compressing action to the sheet .of dough.

48, 49, to compensate for the reduced thickness of the sheet of dough, which thus is spread out into a wider sheet.

Preferably, I provide means whereby the cam or form membersv 157 may be adjusted at either or both ends, thereby permitting said members to be inclined either forwardly l or rearwardly, or to be positloned 1n parallelism to the upper run ofthe belt 123. While for this purpose I may provide any suitable means, I preferably provide means similar.- to that shown for effecting adjustment of the bonding rolls 48, 49, and the mangle roll 104. Herein, I have represented the bearing boxes 162 for the shaft 161 supported upon coiled springs 168. The said boxes have suitably connected thereto screws 169, passing through suitable nuts 170, and one having a hand-wheel 171, said screws being connected by a sprocket chain 172, similar to those already described. To effect individual adjustment of the said boxes 162, I provide one of the said screws 169 with a sleeve 173, adapted to be made fast by a set screw 174, which, when loosened, permits said screw to' be independently turned by its hand-wheel 171, in a manner already set forth.

In order 4to permit adjustment of the opposite ends of said cam or form members 157, I mount therein and in suitable boxes 176 a shaft 177, having thereon sprocket gears 178, shown most clearly in Fig. 8, and about which pass the small rolls 166 of the compression rolls 155. Suitably connected to said boxes are upwardly extending screws 17 9, to which are. connected sprocket gears 180. About said gears passes a sprocket chain 181, permitting simultaneous adjustment of the said bearing boxes, and hence of the corresponding end of the form or cam members 157. To permit individual adjustment of the screws 179, I provide suitable means, referably such as hereinbefore described. erein, I have represented one of the screws 179 as having a sleeve 182 secured thereto by an adjustable set screw 183, upon loosening which the said screw 179 may be individually rotated by a handwheel 184.

Beneath the boxes 176, I preferably position suitable springs 185. If desired, I may rovide between the supports for the bearing boxes 162 and 176 coiled springs 186, whereby if said supports become loosened in any manner, they will nevertheless be held at a proper distance apart.

From the foregoing description, it will be clear that the dough mass may be placed upon the belt 79 and preliminarily compressed by the mangle roll 104, constituting one form of mass-compressing surface, into a thick coarse sheet, after which the mass passes at a higher rate of speed between the bonding rolls 48, 49, by which it is reduced into what I herein term preliminary sheet form. It then passesbetween the succeeding, and herein the final, sheet compressing surfaces composed of the belt or apron 123 and the connected rolls 155. Although the spacing of the compressing surfaces may be Varied, I customarily position the bonding rolls at 48,49, about one and one-half inches apart, the rolls 155 being positioned about one-half inch above the belt or apron 123. The said bonding rolls may, however, be placed at varying distances, as for example two or three inches apart. The sheet is delivered from the belt or apron 123 to the gaging rolls of the biscuit-cutting machine,

herein term generally a self-readjustment of not here shown, and which may be of usual construction.

It is important that a belt or like traveling surface be supported about the roller 49, in order to support the sheet of dough compressed thereagainst and formed thereon by the coaction of the rollers 48, 49. Vithout the employment of a belt, such as shown at 76, the dough-sheet could not readily be supported Without deformation and breakage and transferred to other compressing instrumentalities. Viewing Fig. 6, it will be observed that the dough-sheet is passed directly from the belt 79 onto the belt 76, and then directly onto the belt 123, by all of which it is prevented from deformation.

After compression, certain doughs contract and other doughs continue to How, this depending generally upon the amount of sugar, a dough containing a small proportion lof sugar contracting after compression and one containing a relatively high proportion of sugar expanding or flowing after compression. Such action of the dough I the constituents thereof. To secure or effect such self-readjustment, which must for best results be efected before the biscuits are severed from the sheet, it is important that the dough sheet be freed from and referably removed from the belt against w ich it was compressed, namely, the belt 76 to which it has stuck during and incidental to such compression, and so as to prevent the selfreadjustment desired, and that it be delivered, 10o without breakage or deformation, to another surface,-in the present instance, to the belt 123. As the continuous dough sheet passes from the belt 76 to the belt 123, which it does without deformation or breakage, it has lts opposite faces free and hence is in a' condition in which such self-readjustment may and does occur. In the disclosed mechanism, the continuous dough sheet is recompressed upon and against the belt 123, and in passing across the space between the rolls 125, 126, its opposite faces are again free and hence further self-readjustment occurs. According to the processes heretofore practised, and which I have already described, it was necessary to carry the short dough sheet from the machine or apparatus upon which it is formedl to the biscuitcutting mechanism. This imposed a limitation upon the character of the dough to one which could be manually or otherwise readily transported from place to place. By the apparatus herein described, and in accordance with my method, I may form and operate upon a very short dough, which could not previously be handled because, in lifting it from the former to the biscuit cutter, it would break or crumble into pieces. For that reason, a short dough such as that to which I refer has not heretofore been practically manufactured or placed upon the market. Such short dough is employed by me in making so-called digested biscuits of corn meal, or the like. Such dough contains less gluten, and hence is not bonded together to the same extent as other doughs. So far as I am aware, I am the first who has succeeded in manufacturing for commercial purposes biscuits or like products composed of such so-called short dough.

I have discovered in the course of my experiments that the dough mass must be stepped down in thickness to final sheet form, and that it cannot be practically passed at once to the rolls of the biscuit-cutting mechanism after passing through a single sheet-compressing means.

The length of the rolls 155 preferably exceeds that of the bonding rolls 48, 49 by two or more inches, but this amount may be suitably varied.

If desired, and within the scope of my invention, I may provide suitable means by which the cam or form members 157 may be simultaneously lifted or lowered at both ends. This may be effected in any suitable manner, as for example by providing a sprocket chain connecting the adjusting means for the various sets of bearing boxes, so that by turning a single hand-wheel, all four bearing boxes may be raised or lowered.

The rolls 155 I term smoothing rolls, as they impart a final smoothing action to the sheet of dough, as it passes thereunder.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my inventiom'and the best mode known to me for carrying my process or method into effect, I desire it to be under stood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense, and not for purposes of limi tation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims:

Claims:

l. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination, a pair of coacting, spaced, traveling compressing surfaces between which a dough mass is adapted to be fed, means to drive said surfaces, a pair of bodily traveling compressing members spaced apart a less distance than said air of compressing surfaces and prolonged 1n the direction of travel of the dough sheet, and driving means for said members.

2. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination, a pair of coacting, spaced, traveling, compressing surfaces between which a dough mass is adapt ed to be fed, means to drive said surfaces, a pair of bodily traveling compressing members spaced apart a less distance than the said pair of compressing surfaces and prolonged in the direction of travel of the dough sheet, and means to drive said pair megeve comprising in combination, a traveling sup.

port for a mass of dough, a mangle surface spaced from and coacting with said traveling support, spaced means traveling at a higher rate of speed than said support and mangle surface to reduce said mass issuing from said support and mangle'surface to preliminary sheet form and succeeding, spaced, means, at least one member thereof being prolonged in the direction of travel of the dough sheet, and traveling at a higher rate of speed than said preliminary sheet' forming means further to reduce the thick ness of said sheet.

5. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination, a traveling support for a mass of dough, a mangle roll spaced from and coacting with said traveling support, a pair of rolls spaced sufficiently to reduce said mass issuing from said support and mangle roll to preliminary sheet form, means to drive said rolls at a speed exceeding that of said dough mass support and mangle roll, succeeding bodily traveling sheet reducing means, said sheet reducing means comprising coacting members at least one of which is prolonged in the direction of travel of the dough-sheet and means to drive the same at a speed in excess of said rolls.

6. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination, a traveling support for a mass of dough, a pair of rolls spaced sufficiently to reduce saidmass to preliminary sheet form, means to drive said rolls at a speed exceeding that of said dough mass support, succeeding, spaced, endless belt, sheet reducing means engaging opposite faces of the dough sheet, and means to drive the same at a speed in excess of that of said rolls.

7. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination, a travelin support for a mass of dough, a pair o rolls spaced sufliciently to reduce said mass to preliminary sheet form, means to drive said rolls at a speed exceeding that of said dough mass support, succeeding, spaced, sheet reducing means consisting of a belt and a superposed series of rolls connected in belt form, and means to drive said sheet reducing means at a speed in excess of that of said rolls.

8. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination, a traveling support for a mass of dough, a pair of rolls spaced sufficiently to reduce said mass to preliminary sheet form, means to drive said rolls at a speed' exceeding that of said dough mass support, succeeding, spaced, co-acting sheet reducing means prolonged in the direction of travel of the dough sheet, operating means for said co-acting sheet reducing means, and means relatively to adjust said spaced means to effect an inclination thereof. toward each other.

9. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination, a traveling support for a mass of dough, a pair of rolls spaced suiiiciently to reduce said mass to preliminary sheet form, means to drive said rolls at a speed exceeding that of said dough mass support, succeeding spaced, co-acting sheet reducing means prolonged in the direction of travel of the dough-sheet, means relatively to adjust said spaced means to effect an inclination toward each other, and means to drive said spaced means at a speed in excess of that of said rolls.

10. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination, a traveling support for a mass of dough, a pair of rolls spaced suiiiciently to reduce said mass to preliminary sheet form, means to drive said rolls at aspeed exceeding-that of said dough mass support, succeeding spaced, co-aeting sheet reducing means prolonged in the directionof travel of said dough sheet,means to adjust said spaced means with relation to each other, and means to drive saidspaced means at a speed in excess of thatofsaid rolls. i

11. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination, a traveling support for a mass of dough, a pair of rolls spaced suiiiciently 'to reduce said mass to preliminary sheet form, means to drive said rolls at a speed exceeding that of said dough mass support, succeeding, spaced, co-acting, sheet reducing means consisting of a belt and a superposed series of bodily traveling rollers connected in chain form, a support for said rollers, means vertically to adjust said support at front and rear, and driving means for said spaced sheet reducing means.

12. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprisin in combination, a pair of co-acting space traveling, compressing surfaces between which a dough massI is adapted to be fed, screw driving means for said surfaces including worm gears, means for adjusting said surfaces toward and from each other while retaining said worm gears in mesh with said screw driving means, a pair of bodily traveling compressing members spaced .apart a less distance than said pair of compressing surfaces and prolonged inv the direction of travel of the dough sheet, and driving means for said members. A

13. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination,l a traveling support for a mass of dough prolonged in the direction of travel of the dough mass, a mangle roll mounted thereover and a pair of bonding rolls positioned in advance of said dough support, and adapted to receive the dough sheet from said support and spaced sufficiently to reduce said mass to sheet form.

14. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination, a traveling support for a mass of dough, a mangle roll cooperating therewith, a pair of rolls spaced sufficiently to reduce said mass to preliminary sheet form, means to drive said rolls at a speed exceeding that of said dough mass support, succeeding, spaced, co-acting bodily traveling sheet reducing means, at least one member thereof being prolonged in the direction of travel of the dough sheet, 4and means to drive the same at a speed in excess of that of said rolls, and means to vary the speed of said succeeding sheet reducing means.

. 15. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination, a Vtravelin support for a mass of dough, a pair o rolls spaced sufliciently to reduce said mass to preliminary sheet form, means to drive said.'

rolls at a speed exceeding that of said dough mass support, succeeding sheet reducing means bodily traveling and'prolonged in thc direction of travel of the dough-sheet and means to drive the same at a variable speed in excess of that of said rolls.

16. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination, a traveling support for-a mass'of dough, a pair of rolls spaced suiciently'to reduce said mass to prelin'iinary sheet form, means to drive said rolls at a speed exceeding that of said dough mass support, succeeding, spaced, upperfand lower endless belt, sheet reducing means, and

roc

means to drive the same at a variable speed in excess of that of said rolls.

17. In continuous dough sheeting mechanism, a com res'sing means composed of a series of bodlly't'raveling rolls col'mectefilv in belt form, and having a section constituting a straight lrun, a' support for saidfrolls shaped to support a, plurality'of 'said' rolls in simultaneous engagementwiththddough sheet, means vto adjust said support,"an'd driving meansfor saidrolls.

18. In continuous dough sheeting mecha'- nism, acompressing means consisting of a series of rolls connected in belt form and having a section constituting a'fs'traight run, supports about which said Irolls pass, a coacting compressing'surfacc, 'means for adjusting said support angularly to, or in par' allelism to, saidco-acting compressing sm.'- face, and means for dr1v1ng said rolls'.4

19. lfn continuous dou h sheeting mechanism, acompressing sur ace consisting of a plurality of rolls connected in belt form, cam or form members about which said rolls are mounted to travel, said members being shaped to support a plurality of rolls in simultaneous contact with the dough sheet at any stated time, means to adjust the opposite ends of said form or cam members with respect to a coperating surface, said coperat: ing surface, and means to drive said rolls.

20. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination, a pair of coacting, spaced, traveling, compressing surfaces between Which a dough mass is adapted to be fed, means to drive said surfaces, a pair of bodily traveling, compressing members spaced apart a less distance than the said pair of compressing surfaces, means to drive said pair of members at a greater speed than the said pair of surfaces, and driving means for said pairs of compressing surfaces and members whereby the speed of each of them may be varied throughout the Vextended range of movement.

21. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination a traveling support for a mass of dough, a mangle roll mounted over and spaced from said support, a pair of rolls spaced suiiiciently to reduce the dough mass issuing from said support and mangle roll'to a preliminary sheet form, means to drive said pair of rolls at a speed exceeding that of said dough mass support, succeeding, spaced, sheet reducing means consisting of a belt, and la superposed series of rolls connected in belt form, and means to drive said sheet reducing means at a speed in excess of that of said rolls.

22. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination, a traveling support for a mass of dough, a pair of rolls spaced suiiiciently to reduce such mass to preliminary sheet form, means to drive said rolls at a speed exceeding that of said dough mass support, succeeding, spaced, co-acting. sheet reducing means of belt like form arranged in the direction of travel of the dough sheet, and means relatively to adjust said spaced means whereby they may be inclined toward each other.

'the direction of travel of the dough sheet,

means relatively to adjust saidspaced means to e-dect an inclination thereof toward each other, and means to drive said spaced means at a speed in excess of that of said rolls.l

24. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism rasante comprising in combination, a support for a mass of dough, a pair of rolls spaced sufficiently to reduce said mass to preliminary sheet form, and means further to reduce the thickness of said mass, said latter means including a series of rolls connected in belt form, a support for said rolls shaped to support a plurality of said rolls in simultaneous engagement with the dough sheet, means to adjust said support, means to drive said rolls, and a co-acting belt to engage the opposite face of the dough sheet.

25. ln continuous dough sheeting mechanism, a compressing means consisting of a series of rolls connected in belt form, supports about which said rolls pass and shaped to support a plurality of said rolls in simultaneous contact with the dough sheet, and means for adjusting said supports to vary the inclination of the rolls contacting with the dough sheet.

26. ln continuous dough sheeting mechanism, a compressing means consisting of a series of rolls connected in belt form, a support about which said rolls pass and shaped to support a plurality cf said rolls in simultaneous contact with the dough sheet, and means for adjusting said support angularly to and also in parallelism with a co-acting compressing surface, and means for driving said rolls.

27. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination, a pair of coacting, spaced, traveling, compression suri faces between which a dough mass is adapted to be fed, means to drivefsaid surface, and a second pair of traveling, compression surfaces prolonged in the direction of travel of the dough sheet and spaced apart a less distance than the irstpair and of greater width than said first palr to compensate for the reduced thickness of the sheet of dough.

. 28. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination, a pair of co-acting, spaced, compressing surfaces between which a dough mass is adapted to be fed, means to drive said surfaces, a pair of bodily traveling compressing members prolonged in the directionof travel of the dough sheet and spaced apart a less distance than said pair and of greater Width than said pair to compensate for the reduced thickness of the sheet of dough, and means to drive said pair of members ata greater speed than said pair of compressing surfaces. 1

29. An apparatus for forming a'continuous dough sheet comprising in combination, a pair of co-acting, spaced, traveling, compressing surfaces between which a dough mass is adapted to be fed, means to drive said surfaces, means relatively to adjust opposite sides of said surfaces from one side of the apparatus, and a second pair of traveling, compressing surfaces spaced apart a less distance than the rst pair and promam longed in the direction of travel of the doughlsheet.

30. Continuous doughsheeting mechanism comprising in' combination, a pair of coacting, spaced, traveling, compressing surfaces between which a dough mass is adapted to ybe fed, means to drive said surfaces, a

second pair ofv traveling, compressing sur 81. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising, in combination a bonding roller, a co-acting, traveling belt oppose thereto andbetween which and said roller the dough is compressed into sheet form, a succeeding belt to which said dough sheet is directly delivered by said co-acting belt, and acompressing roller co-acting with said succeeding belt and adapted further to compress the sheet thereagainst, and whereon said continuous sheet is supported with free, opposite faces past said compressin unbroken and without deformation, or selfreadjustment in its continued travel.

32.v Continuous dough sheeting. mechanism comprising in combination a bonding traveling surface, a co-acting traveling belt opposed'thereto and between which and said bonding surface the dough iscompressed into sheet form, a, succeeding belt to which said` dough sheet is directly delivered by said co-acting belt, and a compressing surface coacting with said5 succeeding belt and adapted5further to compress the sheet thereagainst, and whereon said continuous sheet is supportedJwith free, opposite faces past said compressing roller unbroken and without deformation, for self-readjustment in its continued travel,

33,y Continuous dough sheeting -mechanism comprising in combination a mass compressing traveling surface, a coacting traveling belt opposed thereto and between which and saidI mass compressing surface the dough` is compressed into sheet form, a succeeding belt` to which said dough sheet is directly delivered by said co-acting belt.7 and a compressing roller coacting with said succeeding belt and adapted further to compress the sheet thereagainst, said succeeding belt extending in the direction of travel beyond the compressing roller coacting therewith and whereon said continuous 'sheet is supported past said compressing roller unbroken and Without deformation for self-readjustment in its continued travel.

34 Continuons dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination a masscompressing traveling surface, a co-acting roller` traveling belt o lposed thereto and between which and sai vmass-compressing surface the dough is compressed into sheet form, a succeeding belt to. which said dough sheet is directly delivered by said co-actin belt,

, and ao compressing roller co-actin wit said Asucceeding belt, and adapted furt er to compress the sheet thereagainst, means to drive saidsucceeding belt and compressing roller at a higher speed than said mass-compressd ing surface and its co-a'cting belt, said succeeding belt extending in the direction of tra el beyond the compressing roller coacting therewith and whereon saidcontinuous sheet is supported past said compressing roller unbroken and without'deformation for self-readjustment in its continued travel.

35. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination a masscompressing traveling surface, a co-acting traveling belt opposed thereto land between which and said mass-compressing surface the dough is compressed. into sheerl form, a

succeeding belt to which sai'd dough sheet' is directly delivered by said co-acting belt, and a compressing roller co-acting with said succeeding belt and adapted further to compress the sheet thereagainst into sheet form of reduced thickness, said succeeding belt extending in the direction of travel beyond the compressing roller lco-acting therewith and whereon said continuous sheet is sup.

ported past said compressin roller unbroken and without deformation for selfreadjustment in its continued travel.

36. Continuous dough. sheeting mechanism comprising in combination a masscompressing traveling surface, a co-acting Y traveling belt opposed thereto and between which and said mass compressing surface thc dough is compressed into sheet form, a succeeding belt to which said dough sheet is directly delivered by said co-acting belt, a compressing roller co-acting with said succeeding belt and adapted further to compress the sheet thereagainst, said succeeding belt extending in the direction of travel beyond the compressing roller coacting therewith and whereon said continuous sheet is supported past said compressing roller unbroken and without deformation for self-readjustment in its continued travel, and further sheet-compressing means comprising a lower traveling belt and a co-acting upper traveling belt composed of a series of connected rollers having a section constituting a substantially straight run.

37. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination, a masscompressing, traveling surface, a cio-acting, travelingbelt opposed thereto and between which and said mass-compressing surface the dough iscompressed into sheet form, a succeeding belt towhich saidl dough sheet is directly deliveredby said co-acting belt, a

- ceeding compressing roller co-acting with said sucbelt and adapted further to comress thesheet thereagainst, said succeeding belt extending in the ydirection of travel beyond the compressing roller co-acting therewith and whereon said continuous sheet is supported past said compressing roller unbroken and without deformation for selfre'adjustment in its continued travel, and another belt extending in the direction o f travel beyond said succeeding belt and positioned to receive the continuous dough sheet therefrom without deformation and breakage, and to afford free opposite faces of the sheet, thereby to permit further self-readjustment of said sheet.

38. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination, a masscompressing, traveling surface, a co-acting traveling belt opposed thereto and between which and said mass-compressing surface the dough is compressed into continuous sheet form, a succeeding belt to which said dough sheet is directly delivered by said coacting belt, a compressing roller co-acting with said succeeding belt andv adapted further to compress'the sheet thereagainst into preliminary sheet form, said succeeding beltl extending in the direction of travel beyond the compressing roller co-acting therewith andl whereon said continuous sheet is supl co-acting therewith and whereon said'conported past said compressing roller unbroken and without deformation, and a fur-A ther belt adjacent to and adapted to move in the path of travel of said succeeding belt, and to which the sheet is adapted to pass without deformation and breakage, but with opposite, free faces permitting self-readjustment of the constituents thereof.

39. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination, a traveling belt adapted to receive a dough sheet, a compressing traveling surface co-acting with said belt and adapted to compress the sheet thereagainst into preliminary sheet form,

said belt extending in the direction of travel beyond the compressing traveling surface tinuous sheet is supported past said compressing traveling surface unbroken and without deformation, another belt adjacent to and adapted to move in the path of travel of said first belt and to which the sheet is adapted to pass without deformation and breakage, but with opposite, free faces permitting self-readjustment of the constituents t ereof and a compressing traveling ls)ufacecoacting with said second-mentioned 40. Continuous dough sheeting mechaed and arran ed to travel in the same direction as said rst belt and to which the said continuous dough sheet is directly delivered ing roller co-acting therewith and "whereon Y said continuous sheet is `supported. past said compressing roller unbroken and without deformation for self-readjustment in its continued travel.

el. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination, a bonding, traveling surface, a co-acting traveling belt opposed ',thereto and between which and said traveling surface the dough is compressed into sheet form, a succeeding beltl constructed and arranged to travel in the same direction as said first belt and to which the said continuous dough sheet is directly delivered by said first belt, a compressing roller coacting with said succeeding belt and adapted further to compress the sheet thereagainst, said succeeding belt extending in the direction of travel beyond the compressv ing roller co-acting therewith and whereon said continuous sheet issupported past said compressing roller unbroken .and without deformation for self-readjustment in its continued travel, and a further belt adjacent to and adapted to move in the path lof travel` of said succeeding belt and to which the sheet is adapted to pass without deformation and breakage, but with opposite, free faces permitting 'self-readjustment' of the constituents thereof.

42. Continuous dough sheeting mecha- I nism comprising in combination, a bonding, travelmg surface, a co-acting traveling belt opposed thereto and between which and said traveling surface',the dough is compressed into sheet form, a succeeding belt construct-k tending in the direction of travel. beyond the compressing roller co-acting therewith and beyond the roller contained therein and whereon said continuous sheet 1s supported past said compressing roller unbroken and without deformation for self-readjustment in its continued traveL v 43. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination, a bonding, traveling surface, a co-acting, traveling belt opposed thereto and between which and' said traveling surface the dough is compressed te@ into sheet form, a succeeding belt constructed and arranged to travel in the same direction as said first belt and to which the said continuous dough sheet is directly delivered by said first belt, and a traveling compressin surface co-acting with said succeeding be t and adapted further to compress the sheet thereagainst, said succeeding belt extending in the direction of travel beyond the compressing roller co-acting therewith and whereon said continuous sheet is supported past said compressing roller unbroken and without deformation for selfreadjustment in its continued travel.

44. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising'in combination, an upper, compressing, traveling surface, a co-acting, traveling belt opposed thereto and between which and said upper, compressing surface the dough is compressed into continuous sheet form, succeeding sheet conveying means of belt form positioned with relation to said co-acting, traveling belt to receive the sheet therefrom without deformation and breakage and to convey it in the direcconveying means bein constructed and arab ranged to permit self-readjustment of the constituents of said sheet.

45. Continuous dough sheeting mechanism comprising in combination, an upper, compressing, traveling surface, a co-acting 40 traveling belt opposed thereto and between which and said upper, compressing surface the dough is compressed into continuous sheet form, succeeding sheet conveying means of belt form positioned with rey lation to said co-acting, traveling belt to receive the sheet therefrom without deformation and breakage and to convey it inv the direction of travel of said co-acting, traveling belt, a compressing roller co-acting therewith and adapted further to compress the sheet thereagainst, said succeeding sheet conveying means extending in the direction of travel beyond the compressing roller co-acting therewith and whereon said continuous sheet is supported past said compressing roller Without deformation, said sheet conveying means being construct-' ed and arranged to permit self-readjustment of the constituents of said sheet.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD E. LAWRENCE.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR C. ROCHE, IRVING A. TowNsEND. 

